Casing coupler



oct. 11,1927. 1,645,042

C. M. CLAYPOOLE ET AL GAS ING COUPLER Filed Sept. s,

1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY C. M`. CLAYFOOLE ET AL CASING COUPLERv Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS"- 3y A f/Z2 my I ATTORNEY f.

Patented @et ll, i927.

entren stares' Lef-15,042;

PATENT OFFICE;

CURTIS M. CLAYPOOLE AND ALVIN J. ESHENBAUGH, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CASING COUPLER.

Application filed September 5, 1925; Serial No. 54,334. n

This invention relates to a casing coupler, or device for use in connecting together two disconnected or broken parts of a well casing, whereby the casing inientirety may be removed from the well.

@ne object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operated type of Coupler adapted to be lowered into the casing and which is provided with gripping devices adapted to firmly and securely grip and couple the casing sections against any possibility of slipping, and whereby the casingsections may be positively and rigidly coupled for conjoint removal from the well.

Another object is to provide spring-actuated grippers to engage the upper section of the casing and a locking device for holding said grippers normally retracted and for releasing them for action, said locking device being releasable from the coupler by proper manipulation of the drill cable to permit said grippers to set and also to permit the drill tools and cable to be removed from the well and out of the way, so that i the casing may `be extracted without int-erfereu ce therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking device which may also be used as a connector and releaser for engagement with the casing coupler, whereby the lowered and set coupler may be released andv pulled out of the casing in the event that it is found that the casing can not be extracted, or it is desired to release and remove the set coupler for anyT other cause.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a coupler which elfectually obviates the necessity of cutting the drill cable at any point, and avoids the possibility of the loss of the drillingtools or any portion of the sable` and which, furthermore, permits of the removal of the casing sections joined thereby through power applied directly t'o the upper casing section and not to the coupler.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction of spear carrying lower slips or grippers adapted for an automatic setting action and which are retractable for a releasing action when it is desired to release and remove the coupler from the well casing.

lilith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of' parts, hereinafterfully deseribed claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 4:-

Figure'l is a sideelevation ofthe coupler as arranged for r downward movement inL a well casing,thelatter appearing in section;l

Figure Qis` a view of; the'parts shownin Figure lflooking at the same from a position' at right angles toFigure-l.

Figure Slis al vertical longitudinalv section-'- through the coupler fitted in position oetween two separated portions of a-well casing and as arranged just prior to being set or tired to the well casing sections.y

vFigure el is a view similar to Figurel showingthe coupler set to couple the well casino' sections together for a'pulling7 action.. Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal transverse section on line 5--5 ofV Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a similarv view onl line- 6 6 of Figure 8.

Figure 7 is a similar section on line 7--7' of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is asimilar sectionfon line'8'8 of FigureV 3. Y

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the; upper coupler. section or member.

Figure lOis a sectional view through the( intermediate, positioning or stop member these parts, constitutingthe coupler per se,

is a locking and releasing device D.

The upper coupler section or member is provided with a. longitudinal bore 1 eX- tending from end to end thereof, the lower end of said bore being formed to provide a. threaded socket 2 receiving, a threaded stem 3 on the upper end of the member B, whereby said members are adapted to-be detachably connected. The) member A is formedf with a socketed upper end 4c and has twoand of its diametrically opposite sides provided with flattened faces 5 converging in a down- Vgrippers or slips 7, provided with dovetailed guide ribs 8. These `dove-tailed guide ribs 8 slidably engage groovedl guideways 9 formed in the sides 5 and extending at a corresponding angleof inclination thereto Vbetween the reduced portion 4 and the shoulders 6. The grippers 7 normally rest at their lower ends upon the shoulders 6, by

Y which their downward movement is limited,

n. nl

andwwhen so disposed the grippers are in retracted position. The grippers are .connected for sliding movement in unison by a cross pin or key 10 extending transversely across the bore 1 and through guide slots 11 intersecting the grooves 9, which pin or key by engagement with the upper walls of the slots limitsthe upper movement of the grippers. )The grippers are movable upwardly and outwardly. on the inclined faces to projecttliemfor gripping engagement with the pipe-casing, and `.the outer surfaces of said grippers are provided withY downwardly projecting gripping teeth 12 to impinge against the casing and firmly lock the grippers and the coupler section A thereto. The grippers are adapted to be inserted in posit-ion via the upper ends yof the grooves 9 and are then connected and heldin position by fitting the pin or key 10 in place. n I

A coiled expansion spring 13 is fitted in the lower portion of the bore 1 and is arranged to bear at its upper end against 'the pin or key l0 and at its lower end against the abutment formed by the stem 3, said spring exerting its expansive forceV on the pin or Vkey l0 to slide the grippers 7 up wardly onthe inclined faces 5 to project them for gripping position.`

The positioning or stop member B comprises a body 14 formed at its lower end with an internally threaded socket 15 to receive a threaded plug or stem y16 ont-he upper end ofthe spear member C, whereby said members are detachably coupled together. Formed in the opposite sides of the body 14 are recesses 17 receiving a pair of locking dogs 18 pivotally mounted atitheir upper ends, as at 19, within said recesses, so that their lower portions may swing within the recesses and outwardlyand inwardly beyond and within the plane of the body 1.V Springs 2O are provided in the body 14 toY bear against the lower Yends of the dogs to normally hold the saine projected, in which projected position the lower ends 21 of the dogs form -stop shoulders for engagement with the upper end of a lower casingsection E to be joined to an upper casing section F by the coupler, as hereinafter described. The outer edges of the dogs incline in an outward and downward direction to properly shape the dogs for provision of the shoulders 21 and to provide beveled surfaces whereby the dogs are adapted to recede when the coupler is drawn upwardly in the casing, to prevent any interference on their part with such upwardniovement.

The lower coupler section or member C as shown in the present instance comprises a spear formed of any suitable number of parts and having at its upper end a threaded projection 1G for detachable engagement with a socket 15 in the lower end ofthe member B. rliis spear section is provided with slip grippers 23 having toothedouter faces 23a, the teeth of which project upwardly. llhese vgrippers are similar in constructionA to the grippers 7,V having .flattened guide faces at tlieirinner sides provided with dove-tailed ribs engaging dove-tailed guide grooves formed in inclined sides 24 of the member C, which iN slotted transversely to receive and permit of the sliding movement of a cross bar 24L connecting said grippers, the construction of the part C for the mounting of the grippers being similar to that of the member A. A coiled expansion spring 25 lcontained in the member C is arranged to normally bear at its upper end against the bar 24 to hold` thegrippers 23 normally at the limit of their upward movement, or in retracted position. Formed in the sides of Vthe section C, at right angles to the inclined faces 24, are diametrically disposed bores receiving guide sleeves 26 terminating at their outer ends a distance inwardly of the outer ends ofV said bores and projecting at their inner ends partially into the slot or passage way in which the bar 24 slides. These sleeves 26 receive locking pins 27 having headed outer ends'27 to engage the outer ends of said sleeves, whereby the inward movement of the locking pins is limited. Springs 28 are provided in the sleeves to normally hold the pins projected with their headed ends in contact with threaded` plugs 28 closing the outer ends of the bores. lVhen the pins are held retracted their inner ends project a slight distance inwardly io lie out of the way of the coils of the spring 25, allowing said spring to have free expanding and contracting movements without inter@ ference therefrom. By means of these locking pins the spring 25 may be held compressed and out of engagement with the slips 23, to allow said slips to have alimited up and down motion without a setting action, in order to adapt the spear member to be lowered into the well casing and adjusted for a gripping action. ln adjusting the pins for this locking action, which is effected prior to the application of the member C CJI to the memberB, the plugs 28 are removed, the grippers 23 forced downwardly in any suitable manner until" the upper endV of the spring comes below the pins 27, the said pins then forced inwardly against thev resistance of their retracting springs until their inner ends lie between the upper end of spring and the cross bar 24a, after which the plugs Q8 are inserted, the pins being held from retraction in said locking position by frictional and clamping engagement between the spring 25 and the bar 24a. The member C is then in condition to be lowered into the well casing with the grippers 23 free for a certain range of movement and in readiness to be projected for a gripping action on the lower section ofthe well casing in the manner hereinafter described.

The member D constitutes a locking and releasing plunger element, which is adapted for application to the coupler member A to compress the spring 13 and force the grippers 7 downwardly to retracted position. At its'upper end the part D is provided with a threaded stem or plug 29 for engagement with a threaded socket 30 in the drill jar or head 3l to which the drill tools and cable are connected, whereby, through the member D, the coupler body may be attached to the drill rigging for lowering, positioning and casing gripping actions, and for the subsequent release of the member D from the coupler body, whereby the grippers .7 may be automatically unlocked' and released for action and the drill cable, jar and tools left free to be withdrawn from the well casing. The

member D is properly shaped to enter the socket -l and is provided with a plunger portion or stein adapted' to be' received in the upper portion 83 of the bore l of the member A and to engage the locking pin or key l0 and compress the spring 13 and force the grippers T downwardly to a full retracted position. When such portion 32 of the memberD is fully inserted in the bore portion 83, a transverse opening 34' in the plunger 32 is` brought into alinement with a similar opening 35 in the member' ri, which openings 34 d 35 are adapted for the reception of a connecting pin or lrey 36, whereby the member D is fastened to the member A to couple the latter to the drill cable and depressed to hold the grippers 7 locked in retracted position, in which position the device as a whole may be lowered into the well tubing withoutinterference from said grippers. Tl e pin or key 36 is of a size and material to malte it of sufficient strength for the connecting act-ion referred to, but is wealr enough so as to be brealrable under upward pull or jars upon the cable when the coupler is set rigidly to the well sections by the upper and lower sets of grippers, so that a ready release ofthe plunger-like loclring and releasing member D' from the set coupler may be eil'ected, to permit it and the drill cable and tools to le withdrawnv from the well casing.

rEhe member D is slotted and provided with inclined side faces, similar to members A and C, for the reception, when desired, of small slips or grippers 37, which are freely slidable up and down on said inclined faces. The pin or cross-bar 38 connecting these grippers is of detachable type to allow the gi'ippers to be readily applied and removed. The portion of the member Dcarrying said grippers, which are arranged above the plunger portion thereof, is adapted to enter the enlarged upper portion or socket et of the member A and have a sulhcient extent of movementl therein for a downward movement of its plunger portion to release the grippers 7 and a subsequent upward or` recessive movement for setting the grippers 37. rllhe grippers 37 are designed to be applied to th-e member D`whenever it is desired to effect the release of the coupler from the well casing, and its extraction therefrom, after the coupler has been set and it has been found by test that the casing sections can not be pulledV out of the well, and the recovery of the coupler' is desired.

ln the operation of the device', the members A, B and C and their parts are properly assembled for use with the grippers 23 locked in retracted position by theV pins 27 as previously described, and then tlie'members B and C are' inserted into the top of the well casing, the dogs 18 being forced inwardly in any suitable manner to permit of their introduction, after which the device is suitably suspended in the top of the. well Casing with the member A projecting,

while the locking and releasing member or plunger D is being applied and fastened with the drill jars tothe drill cable. ln this operation of applying the member D, it is lowered by means of the drill cable mechanism so that its lower end will properly pass down into the bore of the member A and engage the pin lO and depress the grippers 7 until the openings 34E and 35 come into register, after which the pin 36 is inserted toV hold the parts connected in suchv position. This downward movement of the member D, is assisted by the weight of the drill jar and tools, which is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 13, so that a ready application of the member D to the member A will be secured. When this operation is completed, the coupler, with the grippers 7 and 23 retracted, is in readiness to be lowered into the well casing by means of the drill cable and drill mechanism and will descend' by gravity until the dogs 18 reach `the space between the separated ends of the upper and lower casing sections 8T and 38, whereupon the dogs will spring outwardly and their shoulders 2l' will engage the upper llt) ' for removal in unison, avoiding` the necesf the well casing.

end of the lower casing section 38 and hold the coupling device from further downward movement and in proper position for the grippers 7 and 23 to engage the casing sections 37 and 38, respectively, as shown in Figure. When this position is reached, a slight upward pull upon the draft cable will move the body of spear C upward sufficiently to project and set the lower grippers Q3, as shown in Figure 4, thereby coupling the lower member' or spear C to the lower pipe section 38, preventing further upward movement of the coupling device within the casing. By now exerting a continued upward pull on the cable or by producing shocks or iars as a result Vof sudden, sharp pulls on the 'drill cable, sufcient strain may be placed upon the pin 36 to fracture'it, thus disconnecting the member D from the member A, freeing the member D, the drill tools and the cable for withdrawal in entirety from The withdrawal Vof the member D, resulting in the removal of pressure from'the spring i3, allows the lspring to act to force the gripper-s 7 into engage ment with the upper casing section 37,

whereby thelcoupler will grip the lower and upper casing sections above and below the point of break and will fasten them firmly for conjoint lremoval, which may be effected Vby direct pulling power applied to the cas` ing from above in the'usual way, the coupler when thus applied accordingly acts merely as its name implies, a. fastening connecting the separated `well Vcasing sections sity of attempting to pull the casing out of the well by power applied to the coupling itself, under which it is liable to break. By the provision of the locking and releasii'ig plunger' D, and its fracturable fastening connection 36, ready and easy adjustment of the drill tools and drill cable from. the

well may be effected and leaving the well free and clear of interfering objects in its removal.v Our invention, therefore, obviates ,theV necessity of employing means for cutting the cable after the coupler isset,

either at or below the surface, which in many cases is impossible and in others can not be effected without great troubleand difficulty, and without the liability of the lossof the drill tools and expensive amount of cable.

ln the event that it is found that the well casing can not be withdrawn from the well, after the coupler has been lowered ane to connect the disconnected sections thereof, extraction and recovery of the coupler is dcsirablc. rlhis may be effected as follows. [is shown in Figure l, the upward movement of the coupler in the well casing, whereby the grippers 7 and 23 are set. results in the raising of the dogs 18 above the upper end of the lower casing section E, whereby a determined downward movement of the coupler as a whole in the well casing is permissible. By now applying drill tools or weights to a drill jar fastened to a drill cable, these may be lowered into, the well and operated to exert hammer blows on the socket Ll, whereby the coupler may be forced downward into the casing until the dogs lSagain engage. the upper end of the casing section E. This action will result in the grippers 23 being forced upward and the locking pins 27 jarred out of locking position by vibrations of the spring 25, said pins being retracted by their springs 28, thus freeing spring 25 so that it will force the grippers 23 upward to a fully retracted position and thereby re lease the spear from engagement Vwith the casing section E. `i-"rlhen thisis done the section D, fastened to the drill cable, and to which the jaws QYareapplicd forense, is lowered into the well casino so that it will enter the socket 4l an so that its plunger portion will engage the cross-bar l0 and force the spring 13 `douni'ward to permit retraction of the grippcrs 7. ln thisoperation the grip'iers :37 enter the socket Ll and permit downward movement of the member D there'- in to the fullest extent, but, on a slight upward pull of the cable, the gippers 37 will en,b3 ige the wall of the socket 4 and become set, tlv by coupling the member D to the member A. rllhis upward movement of the n'ienibe.-` D to set the grippers 37 will be within a range in which plunger 32 still holds the spring 13 depressed so that the grippers 7 will still remain retracted. Both sets of grippers 7 and 23 will thus be in released position, allowing the coupler to be pulled out of the well. ly proper manipulation the` grippers 37 may then be released from the member D, restoring the coupler in condition for further use.

if desired hooks, Igrapples or other devices may be applied to the coupler in lieu of the spear C. whenever it is desired to fish a well casing for the recovery of tools or other articles falling thereinto, thus increasing the range of usefulness of the device.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim:

l. A coupler of the character described comprising a body having a central longitudinal bore and a cross passage intersecting said bore, sliding .Qrippers at opposite sides of the body, a cross piece in said cross passage and connecting said grippers, a spring acting on said cross piece for projecting the grippers,'a member adapted to be attached to a cable and having` plunger pin adapted to be fitted in said bore and enga ed with the cross piece for exerting pressure thereon to hold the grippers retracted, and a fracturable pin for direct-ly connecting said plunger with the coup'ler body.

2. A coupler of the character described having` automatically projectable grippers,

neaaoae a member adapted to be attachedx to a manipulating cable and to be engaged with the coupler to hold the grippers retracted, means for fastening said member to the coupler, .said means being releasable by pulls or jerks on the cable t-o free said member and cable for withdrawal from the well casing, and means applicable to said member whereby itl may be re-engaged with the coupler and interlocled therewith.

3. A coupler of the character described comprising' a coupler body, stop means on the coupler body, upper and lower grippers on the coupler body, a member adapted for engagement with the coupler body to effect the release of the upper grippers, a releasable connection for connecting said member with said coupler body, said connection being releasable under pulls or jerks upon said member, and means independent of said connection for automatically connecting said member with said coupler body by movement of said member into engagement with said coupler body.

et. A coupler of the character described having spring-actuated upper gripping jaws, spring-actuated lower gripping jaws, stop means between said jaws, locking means for holding the lower jaws from action while permitting such aws to have a certain range of setting movement, said locking means being rendered inoperative by a forcible downward movement of the coupler, a member engageable with the coupler to hold thenpper jaws retracted, means for releasably connecting said member with the coupler, said means being operative for a releasing action by pulls or jerks upon said member, and means applicable to said member for automatically interlocking the same with the coupler when said member is moved into engagement with the coupler.

5. In a coupler of the character described, a coupler body, grippers on the coupler body, a member adapted to be engaged with the coupler body to hold the grippers retracted, and slip grippers on said member for automatically locking the same to the coupler body on being brought into engagement therewith.

6. A coupler ofthe character described having automatically projectable grippers, a member adapted to be attached to a manipulating cable and to be engaged with the coupler to hold the grippers retracted, means for fastening said member to the coupler, said means adapted to be fractured by pulls or jerks on the cable to free said member and cable for withdrawal from the well casing, and means applicable to said member whereby it may be reengaged with the coupler to release the projected grippers and locked to the coupler so that the released lcoupler may be withdawn from the well.

7. A coupler for connecting two sections of a well casing comprising a body having upper and lower pairs of oppositely disposed inclined faces, a cross pai-sage between the upper inclined faces, and a bore extending downwardly from the upper end of the body and intersecting said passage, lower gripping members slidable on the lower inclined faces of the body and adapted for engagement with the lower pipe section, said members being automatically retractable on the downward movement of the coupler and adapted to be set on an upward movement thereof, upper grippers slidable on the upper vinclined faces of the body and adapted for engagement with the upper casing section, a cross piece on said cross passage con-v necting the upper grippers, a spring acting on said cross piece for automatically projecting said upper grippers, a member adapted to be attached to a cable or the like and having a plunger pin adapted to be inserted into said bore and to press upon the cross piece to hold the upper grippers normally retracted against the pressure of their actuating epring, and a fracturable locking pin for connecting said plunger pin to the coupler body, said locking pin adapted to be fractured by pulls or jerks upon the cable to i effect the release of said member from the coupler body and the withdrawal of the same with the cable from the well.

8. A coupler ofthe character described having automatically projectable gripping means, member adapted to be coupled to a drill-cable and to be engaged with the couplerI to hold the gripping means from action, a fracturable connection for holding said member applied to the coupler, and. automatic gripping means carried by said member for a grip lock connection between the ame and the coupler;

9. A coupler of the character described comprising a coupler body, stop means on said coupler body, automatic gripping means on said coupler body, a member adapted for engagement with the coupler body to release said gripping means, and automatic gripping means on said member whereby the same may be locked to the coupler body.

10. A coupler of the characterV described comprising a coupler body, stop means on the coupler body, upper and lower grippers on the coupler body, a member adapted for engagement with the coupler body to effect the release of the upper grippers, a fracturable pin for normallyv connecting said member with said coupler body, and gripping means adapted to be applied to said member for a grip-lock between the same and the coupler body.

l1. A coupler of the character described having spring-actuated upper gripping jaws, spring-actuated lower gripping jaws, stop means between said jaws, locking means for engagement with the actuating spring of Vwith and dsconneotble from the coupler the lower jaws for normally holding,l said and operative when engaged with the coupsprng Yfrom action while permitting the ler to hold the upper aws retracted.

jaws to have a certain range of settng1nove- In testimony whereof We ax our sgna- 10 ment, said looking means being rendered ntures. Y f

operative by a forcible downward movement Y of the coupler, Idnd a member engageable CURTIS M. GLAYPOOLE. ALVIN J. ESHENBAUGH. 

